Balance plays a vital role in daily life, and it should be discussed more. Sitting, standing, walking and even lying down require your sense of balance. Impaired balance can lead to dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, lightheadedness and a feeling like you might fall. It’s critical, especially as we age, to keep on top of balance health and monitor our fall risk.
Why It Matters
Dizziness and lightheadedness increase your risk of falls, which are a significant health concern. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults over the age of 65. Falls can lead to:
- Broken bones, particularly hip fractures
- Head injury
- Mobility issues
- Diminished self-efficacy and independence
- Death
Even falls that don’t result in injury can trigger fear and anxiety about falling, leading one to avoid going out on their own, neglect everyday activities and withdraw from social settings.
We don’t want you to be fearful of falling to the point that you insulate yourself, but we do want to give you information that will instill caution and inspire you to take actions that will reduce your fall risk. Your first step in doing that is getting a balance test.
What a Balance Test Can Reveal
Balance testing can identify balance disorders or weaknesses in your sense of balance. We use a variety of balance tests to pinpoint what the potential issue is and where it lies. These tests identify abnormalities and assess weaknesses in balance, control of your center of gravity, spatial perception, sensory information processing, muscle strength, gait stability and much more.
Some possible balance disorders that balance testing can uncover include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), also called positional vertigo
- Ménière’s disease
- Labyrinthitis
- Acoustic neuroma
Other conditions can impact the sense of balance as well, such as:
- Hearing loss
- Vision issues
- Low blood pressure
- Autoimmune disorders
- Neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s
- Previous injuries
- Medications
Prevention Is Key
Knowledge is power. Identifying a condition or factor that increases your fall risk allows us to create a treatment plan that addresses it. We can teach you special balance-strengthening exercises, suggest lifestyle changes, prescribe medication and even refer you for surgery to help with balance issues, all in service of decreasing fall risk.
How to Know It’s Time for a Balance Test
Seeking help with balance issues early is critical so we can get started with fall prevention as soon as possible. Some possible signs of a balance issue are:
- Frequent dizzy spells
- Feeling like the room is spinning while you stand still (vertigo)
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady on your feet, especially after turning your head
- Holding on to furniture and walls for stability while walking
- Nausea during dizzy spells
If you’ve recently had a fall or a near-fall, you should definitely seek professional help from a balance specialist.
If you’re ready to check your balance, call us at Southwestern Hearing & Balance today to schedule a balance testing appointment. We look forward to helping you regain your footing!